Macklemore Sells Out Dublin Arena for Palestine Benefit

Macklemore took the stage at Dublin's 3Arena on Monday night to launch a sold-out benefit tour, weeks after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour. The concert marked the first of three paid dates for the Free Palestine Tour, with the remaining shows scheduled for Paris and London. Organizers withheld the full lineup until the day of the event, keeping the specific guest artists under wraps until the doors opened.

The bill featured a mix of international and regional acts. Irish singer Hozier and the Irish rap group Kneecap shared the stage with Palestinian-American DJ Habibeats and Palestinian singer-songwriter Lina Makoul. Rapper M1 of Dead Prez also performed. The lineup included Boega, the backing band that had left Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore. All proceeds from the three nights go to organizations supporting Palestine.

Special guests spoke to the audience in Dublin. Irish actor Liam Cunningham, activist Nadia Greenspan, and organizer Samir Eskanda addressed the crowd. Cunningham told the audience that enjoying the music did not mean ignoring the crisis. "Enjoying tonight does not mean forgetting about the suffering in Gaza," he said. "It means celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought so hard to protect."

The tour follows a public split with Ed Sheeran's promoter. Last month, Messina Touring Group announced that venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill. The promoter stated that venues notified them they would not allow the concert to proceed with him on the lineup. This decision impacted hundreds of thousands of fans and led to his removal from the remaining support dates.

Sheeran addressed the situation onstage during his own tour. The singer said he did not want to disappoint fans or become an activist musician, but the situation placed him in the middle of a debate on freedom of speech. He noted that his concerts have always been a safe space for everyone. Sheeran expressed concern that venues pre-approve content for performance, adding that this practice should never happen in the free world.

A press release for the new tour described the beneficiary organizations as providing medical supplies, food, and humanitarian assistance. It also highlighted work in education, community support, and advocacy. The release stated that the tour centers on Palestinian families, children, healthcare workers, students, artists, and communities affected by the conflict in Gaza.

Macklemore announced the tour on Instagram, writing that a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation had occurred over the last three years. He noted that being apolitical during a genocide no longer works in 2026. He said people are asking artists to show up, educate themselves, and use the stage for more than entertainment. The series continues at Paris' Accor Arena on Oct. 29 and London's OVO Arena Wembley on Oct. 30.